The price of power
Ghana’s election has brought another handover between the country’s two main parties. Yet behind the scenes lies a flawed system where wealth can buy political office.
Politics
Growing but not maturing
As Ghana heads to the polls, its democratic promise fades amid economic turmoil, corruption, and disillusionment, leaving voters to choose between two flawed options.
Brazil is an African country
After marking its first federal National Black Consciousness Day, Brazil confronts its deep African heritage and enduring racial inequalities.
O Brasil é um país africano
Após marcar seu primeiro Dia Nacional da Consciência Negra como feriado federal, o Brasil reafirma sua profunda herança africana e as persistentes desigualdades raciais.
Gen Z, Riggy G, and the Kenyan pornocracy
In a political landscape defined by opportunism, spectacle, and betrayal, Kenya’s youth-led protests offered a fleeting glimpse of change — only to be ensnared by the same system they sought to challenge.
Americans, after all
End of the year reflections on the United States of America, from the Global South.
Russian and waiting
Western missteps in Africa are creating an opening for Russia to deepen its influence.
No more business as usual
What can the complete civil disobedience of the Sudanese Professionals Association teach us at a moment when belief in the efficacy of nonviolent protest is in decline?
The Nigerian people must own their resistance
When rising against ruling-class corruption, Nigerians must reject the hero culture that has historically undermined genuine activism.
Liberation is not propaganda
At Africa Energy Week, the language of resource sovereignty disguised a new form of climate denial that appropriates progressive rhetoric in service of fossil fuel companies.
Not exactly at arm’s length
Despite South Africa’s ban on arms exports to Israel and its condemnation of Israel’s actions in Palestine, local arms companies continue to send weapons to Israel’s allies and its major arms suppliers.
Mozambique and the politics of popular uprising
On November 21st, 2024, we discussed the politics underlying the popular uprising in Mozambique with António Bai, Anne Pitcher, and José Jaime Macuane.
Ruto’s Kenya
Since June’s anti-finance bill protests, dozens of people remain unaccounted for — a stark reminder of the Kenyan state’s long history of abductions and assassinations.
Hopium kills but hope seeds
Reflections on Trump’s 2024 US presidential victory.
No justice, no peace in Mozambique
A decade ago, the kind of protest movement gripping Mozambique over the last few weeks would have been difficult to fathom.
Sem justiça e sem paz em Moçambique
Há dez anos, seria difícil imaginar esse tipo de movimento que vem ocorrendo nas últimas semanas em Moçambique.
When you get under Antony Blinken’s skin
On the deplatforming of 'African Stream.'
When you love something, you fight for it
A personal reflection on what it’s like to fight anti-homosexuality laws as one of the few openly LGBTIQ+ rights activists in Uganda.
Between blackout and embargo
In Cuba, new forms of marginalization and racism have surfaced, but the dream of a good society based on the core principles of “buen vivir” for its people has not died.
The real Rwanda
The world is slowly opening its eyes to how Paul Kagame’s regime abuses human rights, suppresses dissent, and exploits neighboring countries.